Systems and methods for providing wireless power to a power-receiving device, and related power-receiving devices

ABSTRACT

In an embodiment, a wireless power distribution system is disclosed. The wireless power distribution system includes a routing module having at least one processor configured to determine a route for a power-receiving device to travel responsive to receiving input about one or more characteristics associated with the power-receiving device or one or more wireless power transmitters for delivering power to the power-receiving device. The wireless power distribution system further includes the one or more wireless power transmitters operably coupled to the routing module. The one or more wireless power transmitters are configured to wirelessly transmit the power to the device at one or more locations along the route.

SUMMARY

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to wireless power distributionsystems including a routing module configured to determine a route for apower-receiving device to travel along responsive to receivinginformation about one or more characteristics associated with thepower-receiving device or one or more wireless power transmitters fordelivering power to the power-receiving device, methods of distributingwireless power, and related devices. In an embodiment, a wireless powerdistribution system is disclosed. The wireless power distribution systemincludes a routing module having at least one processor configured todetermine a route for a power-receiving device to travel alongresponsive to receiving input about one or more characteristicsassociated with the power-receiving device or one or more wireless powertransmitters for delivering power to the power-receiving device. Thewireless power distribution system further includes the one or morewireless power transmitters operably coupled to the routing module. Theone or more wireless power transmitters are configured to wirelesslytransmit the power to the power-receiving device at one or morelocations along the route.

In an embodiment, a wireless power distribution system is disclosed. Thewireless power distribution system includes a power-receiving device,and a routing module including at least one processor configured todetermine a route for the power-receiving device to travel alongresponsive to receiving input about one or more characteristicsassociated with the power-receiving device or one or more wireless powertransmitters for delivering power to the power-receiving device.

In an embodiment, a power-receiving device is disclosed. Thepower-receiving device includes a wireless transmitter configured tosend one or more signals encoding information about one or morecharacteristics of the power-receiving device to a remote routing moduleassociated with a wireless power distribution system. Thepower-receiving device further includes a wireless receiver configuredto receive one or more routing signals and wireless power from thewireless power distribution system. The one or more routing signalsencode a route along which the power-receiving device can travel toreceive wireless power from the wireless power distribution system. Thepower-receiving device further includes a power converter coupled to thewireless receiver and configured to convert the wireless power toelectrical energy.

In an embodiment, a method of distributing wireless power is disclosed.The method includes wireless receiving data about a route along which apower-receiving device can travel to receive power wirelessly. Themethod further includes wirelessly sending a request for delivery of thepower to one or more locations along the route that the power-receivingdevice is to travel. The method also includes responsive to the sendingthe request, wirelessly receiving at least a portion of the power at thepower-receiving device at the one or more locations along the route.

In an embodiment, a method includes at a routing module, receiving inputabout one or more characteristics associated with a power-receivingdevice in need of power. The method further includes with at least oneprocessor of the routing module, determining a route along which thepower-receiving device can receive power wirelessly responsive to thereceiving the input.

In an embodiment, a method includes sending information about one ormore characteristics associated with a power-receiving device in need ofpower. The method further includes responsive to the sending theinformation, at the power-receiving device, receiving route informationabout a route along which the power-receiving device can receive thepower wirelessly.

In an embodiment, a method includes with at least one processor of arouting module, determining a route along which a power-receiving devicecan receive power wirelessly based at least partially on one or morecharacteristics of at least one of a plurality of wireless powertransmitters.

The foregoing is a summary and thus may contain simplifications,generalizations, inclusions, and/or omissions of detail; consequently,the reader will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and isNOT intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects, features, andadvantages of the devices and/or processes and/or other living subjectmatter described herein will become apparent after reading the teachingsset forth herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless power distribution systemfor wirelessly powering a portable electronic device according to anembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a wireless power distribution systemfor powering a vehicle according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram of a portable electronic device according toan embodiment.

FIG. 3B is a block diagram of a portable electronic device including anintegrated routing module according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 4-6 are flow diagram of methods of wirelessly distributing powerto a power-receiving device according to various embodiments.

FIG. 7 is flow diagram of a method of wirelessly distributing power to apower-receiving device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is flow diagram of a method of wirelessly distributing power to apower-receiving device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is flow diagram of a method of determining a route for apower-receiving device to travel along for receiving wirelesslydistributed power according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to wireless power distributionsystems including a routing module configured to determine a route for apower-receiving device to travel along responsive to receivinginformation about one or more characteristics associated with thepower-receiving device or one or more wireless power transmitters fordelivering power to the power-receiving device, methods of distributingwireless power, and related devices. In the following detaileddescription, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forma part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identifysimilar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrativeembodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claimsare not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, andother changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe subject matter presented here.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a wireless powerdistribution system 100 for wirelessly powering a portable electronicdevice 102 (e.g., a cell phone, a laptop computer, a personal dataassistant, a tablet, or other power-receiving device). The wirelesspower distribution system 100 includes one or more wireless powertransmitters 104 that are spaced from each other and distributed alongone or more paths 106. The one or more wireless power transmitters 104are each configured to wirelessly transmit power. For example, each ofthe wireless power transmitters 104 can include at least one of a laserconfigured to output a laser power beam, a microwave source configuredto output microwave power, a microwave beam source configured to outputa microwave power beam, an inductive power source configured to outputinductive power, or a radio-frequency-power source configured to outputradio-frequency power. The paths 106 can be any suitable path or pathson which a person 108 or vehicle can travel on, such as roads, streets,pedestrian pathways, walkways such as airport walkways, or othersuitable paths.

The wireless power distribution system 100 further includes a routingmodule 110 that can be remote/separate from or integrated with theportable electronic device 102. The routing module 110 includes at leastone processor 112 having processing electrical circuitry configured todetermine a route along the one or more paths 106 for the portableelectronic device 102 to travel along responsive to receiving input orother information about one or more characteristics associated with theportable electronic device 102 or the wireless power transmitters 104for delivering power to the power-receiving device 102. The routingmodule 112 further includes a wireless transceiver 113 operably coupledto the processor 112, and configured to transmit the route to theportable electronic device 102 and receive data from another source suchas the portable electronic device 102. For example, the wirelesstransceiver 103 of the portable electronic device 102 can communicate arequest for wireless power to the routing module 110 along withinformation about the one or more characteristics about the portableelectronic device 102. In other embodiments, the routing module 110 andthe portable electronic device 102 can communicate via wiredcommunications networks, via the Internet, by posting and accessing datain databases, or the like.

For example, the one or more characteristics associated with theportable electronic device 102 can include at least one of type ofwireless power receiver or wireless transceiver 103 of the portableelectronic device 102, amount of power requested by the portableelectronic device 102, maximum power reception capability of theportable electronic device 102, cumulative energy requested by theportable electronic device 102, current location of the portableelectronic device 102, speed at which the portable electronic device 102is traveling, time at which the portable electronic device 102 istraveling, allowable periods for the portable electronic device 102without power delivery, operating mode of the portable electronic device102, or energy storage capacity of the portable electronic device 102.One or more of the characteristics associated with the portableelectronic device 102 can involve a reference route that, for example,the user of the portable electronic device prefers to take. The routingmodule 110 can determine a revised route for the portable electronicdevice 102 that maximizes (or achieves specified values of) power orenergy delivery while minimizing deviations from the reference route.One or more of the characteristics associated with the portableelectronic device 102 can involve constraints on the route to bedetermined by the routing module 110, such as start or end locations,waypoints, trip duration, maximum allowable deviations from a referenceroute (in location, velocity, or time), or the like. One or more of thecharacteristics associated with the portable electronic device 102 caninvolve financial considerations, such as peak power prices orcumulative energy prices that the user is willing to pay for itsdelivered energy.

For example, the one or more characteristics associated with thewireless power transmitters 104 can include type of power that thewireless power transmitters 104 are configured to output, operationalavailability of the wireless power transmitters 104, frequency of thepower that the wireless power transmitters 104 are configured to output,range that the wireless power transmitters 104 are configured totransmit power, directionality of the power that the wireless powertransmitters 104 are configured to output, location of the wirelesspower transmitters 104, power level that can be transmitted from thewireless power transmitters 104, type of energy that can be transmittedfrom the wireless power transmitters 104, cost of the power that thewireless power transmitters 104 are configured to output, or some otheroperational information about the wireless power transmitters 104. Forexample, the one or more characteristics associated with the wirelesspower transmitters 104 can include operational availability, such aswhether the wireless power transmitter 104 is out of service formaintenance, is reserved for use by another portable electronic device102, or the like.

In use, the portable electronic device 102 can wireless transmit arequest 107 for wireless power to the routing module 110 from thewireless transceiver 103 thereof, which is received by the wirelesstransceiver 113 of the routing module 110. In an embodiment, the request107 can further include information about any of the one or morecharacteristics associated with the portable electronic device 102disclosed herein. In making the request 107, the portable electronicdevice 102 can take into account the efficiency with which it canconvert received power to useful energy (e.g., electrical energystorable in an onboard battery, or available to power an electricaldevice, a motor, or the like). For example, if the portable electronicdevice 102 needs 12 kilojoules, but only has a 60% conversionefficiency, the portable electronic device 102 can request 20 kilojoulesof energy. Responsive to the request 107 and at least partially based onthe one or more characteristics, the processor 112 of the routing module110 can determine one or more specific routes for the person 108 totravel along carrying the portable electronic device 102 so that theportable electronic device 102 can reliably receive wireless power fromone or more of the wireless power transmitters 104. The wirelesstransceiver 113 transmits the determined route(s) wirelessly to thewireless transceiver 103 of the portable electronic device 102, whichcan be visually displayed or audio delivered to the person 108 so thatthe person 108 can intentionally travel on the paths 106 along the routecarrying the portable electronic device 102 to receive power wirelesslyfrom one or more of the wireless power transmitters 104. For example,the route directs the person 108/portable electronic device 102 to alocation to receive the power, directs the person 108/portableelectronic device 102 to be at the location at a specified time toreceive the power, directs the person 108/portable electronic device 102to receive a selected amount of the power, or directs the manner inwhich the person 108/portable electronic device 102 travels betweenpower draws from the wireless power transmitters 104. In an embodiment,the routing module 110 can receive requests 107 from multiple portableelectronic devices 102. It can determine separate routes for each of theportable electronic devices 102, resolving conflicts associated with thedesire to supply two or more portable electronic devices 102 with powerfrom the same wireless power transmitter 104. Thus, in an embodiment,the routing module 110 can be configured to schedule or reserve powerfor delivery to the portable electronic device 102 at a later, selectedtime or time period. The routing module 110 can issue a verification ofsuch a power reservation to the portable electronic device 102.

The wireless power distribution system 100 further includes a powerdelivery subsystem 114 operably coupled to the routing module 110 toreceive the determined route information therefrom. The power deliverysubsystem 114 further includes a controller 116 having controlelectrical circuitry that is operably coupled to each of the wirelesspower transmitters 104. The controller 116 is configured to selectivelydirect the wireless power transmitters 104 to output wireless power 118with at least one of a direction or timing so that the portableelectronic device 102 receives the wireless power 118 at a wirelesstransceiver 103 thereof as the person 108 travels along the route sodetermined carrying the portable electronic device 102. That is, giventhe determined route, the power delivery subsystem 114 selectivelytransmits wireless power 118 that is received by the wirelesstransceiver 103 of the portable electronic device 102 for immediate useor for energy storage in a battery or other energy storage devicethereof. The wireless transceiver 103 can be coupled to a powerconverter 105, such as at least one of an optical-electrical converter,an antenna, a magnetic-electrical converter, or aradio-frequency-electrical converter depending on the type of wirelesspower 118 delivered that are configured to convert the received wirelesspower to electric energy associated with the received wireless power forpowering the portable electronic device 102.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the wireless power distribution system100 in which a vehicle 200 travels along a determined route to receivewireless power according to an embodiment. For example, the vehicle 200can be an electric powered vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, such as apassenger vehicle, a commercial truck, or other vehicle. The vehicle 200can include a wireless transceiver 202 operably coupled to a powerconverter 203 that converts the received wireless power to electricalenergy for storage in an energy storage device 204 (e.g., a battery).The vehicle 200 further includes an electric or a hybrid motor 206 thatpowers a drive assembly (not labeled) that drives the wheels 208. Acontroller 210 is operably coupled to the energy storage device 204 andthe motor 206, and includes control electrical circuitry configured tocontrol delivery of electrical energy from the energy storage device 204to the motor 206 for powering the motor 206 and causing movement of thevehicle 200.

In use, like the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the routing module 110determines a route for the vehicle 200 to travel along responsive to oneor more characteristics of the vehicle 200 or the wireless powertransmitters 104. After determining the route which can be responsive toa request for wireless power from the vehicle 200 via the wirelesstransceiver 202, the routing module 110 transmits the route to thevehicle 200 via communication between the wireless transceiver 113 ofthe routing module 110 and the wireless transceiver 202 on the vehicle200. For example, the route can be displayed on a display screen for thedriver of the vehicle 200 to view. For example, the route can beelectronically transferred into an existing routing module of thevehicle or the driver. The vehicle 200 proceeds to travel along theroute, while the power delivery subsystem 114 directs the wireless powertransmitters 104 to transmit wireless power 118 to the vehicle 200 as ittravels along the route. The wireless power 118 is received by thewireless transceiver 202 and converted to electrical energy by the powerconverter 203. The converted electrical energy can be stored in theenergy storage device 204 that powers the motor 206 or delivered to themotor 206 for substantially immediate use.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram of a portable electronic device 300 accordingto an embodiment. The portable electronic device 300 can be used for theportable electronic device 102 shown in FIG. 1. For example, theportable electronic device 300 can be embodied as a cell phone, a laptopcomputer, a personal data assistant, a tablet, or other power-receivingdevice. The portable electronic device 300 can include a wirelesstransceiver 302 that receives one or more data signals encodinginformation about a route for the person carrying the portableelectronic device 300 to travel on. The wireless transceiver 302 isconfigured to transmit a request for wireless power to a routing module,such as the routing module 112 shown in FIG. 1. In an embodiment, thewireless transceiver 302 is also configured to transit one or moresignals encoding information about one or more characteristics of theportable electronic device 300, such as any of the characteristics for apower-receiving device described above in relation to the embodimentshown in FIG. 1. In an embodiment, a separate wireless receiver andtransmitter can be used instead of the wireless transceiver 302.

The portable electronic device 300 further includes a power converter304 coupled to the wireless transceiver 302 that converts the receivedwireless power to electricity for storage in an energy storage device306 (e.g., a battery). For example, the power converter 304 can includeat least one of an optical-electrical converter, an antenna, amagnetic-electrical converter, or a radio-frequency-electrical converterdepending on the type of wireless power to be received that isconfigured to convert the received wireless power to electrical energy.At least one processor 308 including processing electrical circuitry isprovided that controls distribution of the stored energy from the energystorage device 306 for powering a visual display 310 (e.g., atouchscreen or other suitable display) and other aspects of the portableelectronic device 300, such as cellular phone operation, etc. A powerrequest module 310 including processing electrical circuitry is alsooperably coupled to the processor 308, and is configured to direct thewireless transceiver 302 to wireless transmit a request for power to therouting module, as previously discussed.

In an embodiment shown in FIG. 3B, a routing module 312 that performsthe same or similar function as the routing module 110 can be integratedwith the portable electronic device 300. In such an embodiment, therouting module 312 can be operably coupled to the processor 308 anddirect the wireless transceiver 302 to direct a remote power deliversubsystem (e.g., the power delivery subsystem 114) to direct thewireless power transmitters 104 to selectively transmit power to theportable electronic device 300 as it travels along the determined path.

FIGS. 4-9 are flow diagrams of methods of wirelessly distributing powerto a power-receiving device according to various embodiments. Any of themethods disclosed herein can be implemented by the wireless powerdistribution system 100 in conjunction with the portable electronicdevice 102, vehicle 200, portable electronic device 300, or anothersuitable power-receiving device.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method 400 of wirelessly distributingpower to a power-receiving device according to an embodiment. In act402, at a routing module (e.g., routing module 110), input or otherinformation is received about one or more characteristics associatedwith a power-receiving device (e.g., portable electronic device 102) inneed of power. For example, the one or more characteristics can be anyof the characteristics described herein about the portable electronicdevice 102. In act 404, with at least one processor of the routingmodule (e.g., processor 112), a route is determined along which thepower-receiving device can receive power wireless responsive toreceiving the input. In act 406, the power can be wirelessly transmitted(or otherwise communicated) to the power-receiving device at one or morelocations along the route from one or more of the wireless powertransmitters 104.

For example, the power can be delivered to the power-receiving deviceprior to or while the power-receiving device travels along the route, orprior to or while the power-receiving device travels along a portion ofthe route in which the power-receiving device consumes power at greaterthan a specified power consumption rate. In an embodiment, the route isdetermined so that the power-receiving device receives maximum powerprior to or while the device travels along a portion of the route inwhich the power-receiving device consumes power at greater than aspecified power consumption rate. In an embodiment, relatively morepower can be wirelessly transmitted to the power-receiving device alonga portion of the route in which the power-receiving device consumespower at greater than an average power consumption rate, such as if thevehicle 200 is traveling uphill, etc. For example, for a givendistribution of the wireless power transmitters 104, the route can bedetermined in order to maintain power distribution to thepower-receiving device above a threshold or a maximum power level,determined to maximize power distribution to the power-receiving device,or determined to minimize total cost for distributing power to thepower-receiving device.

Referring to FIG. 5, in an embodiment, in act 408, at the power deliverysubsystem (e.g., power delivery subsystem 114), a request for power canbe received from, for example, the power-receiving device. Referring toFIG. 6, in an embodiment, after acts 406 or 408, at the routing module110, in act 410, the route can be substantially continuously determinedwhether the route needs to be altered at least partially based on one ormore factors, such as at least partially based on at least one of a rateof power consumption by the power-receiving device or rate at whichenergy storage in the power-receiving device is consumed as thepower-receiving device travels along the route. For example, an alteredroute can be determined based at least partially on at least one of arate of power consumption or energy storage of the power-receivingdevice as the power-receiving device travels along the route.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a method 700 of wirelessly distributingpower to a power-receiving device according to an embodiment. In act702, information can be sent about one or more characteristicsassociated with a power-receiving device in need of power, such as theportable electronic device 102. For example, the one or morecharacteristics can be any of the characteristics described herein aboutthe portable electronic device 102. In act 704, responsive to sendingthe information in act 702, at the power-receiving device, routeinformation can be received about a route along which the person orvehicle carrying the power-receiving device can travel along which thepower-receiving device can receive power wirelessly. In an embodiment,the route can include a plurality of different routes, and the user ofthe power-receiving device can select one of the different routes, suchas via a user interface in the power-receiving device, vehicle display,etc. In act 706, the power-receiving device can receive at least aportion of the power wirelessly at one or more locations along theroute. In an embodiment, in act 708, the power-receiving device canreceive an altered route at least partially based on a rate of powerconsumption by the power-receiving device or rate at which energystorage in the power-receiving device is consumed as the power-receivingdevice travels along the route.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a method 800 of wirelessly distributingpower to a power-receiving device according to an embodiment. In act802, a power-receiving device can wireless receive data about a routealong which a power-receiving device can travel to receive powerwirelessly. In act 804, a request for delivery of the power to one ormore locations along the route that the power-receiving device is totravel can be wirelessly sent. In act 806, responsive to the sending therequest in act 804, at least a portion of the power can be wirelesslyreceived at the power-receiving device at the one or more locationsalong the route.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a method 900 related to wirelesslydistributing power to a power-receiving device according to anembodiment. In act 902, a request for power for the power-receivingdevice can be received at, for example, the routing module 110. In act904, with at least one processor of the routing module, a route alongwhich the power-receiving device can receive power wirelessly based atleast partially on one or more characteristics of at least one of aplurality of wireless power transmitters can be determined. In act 906,the route can be communicated to the power-receiving device.

In an embodiment, in act 904, the route can be determined in order tomaximize power or energy distribution to the power-receiving device fora given distribution of a plurality of wireless power transmitters. Inan embodiment, in act 904, the route can be determined in order tomaintain power to the power-receiving device above a threshold powerlevel. In an embodiment, in act 904, the route can be determined inorder to minimize total cost for power or energy distribution to thepower-receiving device.

The reader will recognize that the state of the art has progressed tothe point where there is little distinction left between hardware andsoftware implementations of aspects of systems; the use of hardware orsoftware is generally (but not always, in that in certain contexts thechoice between hardware and software can become significant) a designchoice representing cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs. The reader willappreciate that there are various vehicles by which processes and/orsystems and/or other technologies described herein can be effected(e.g., hardware, software, and/or firmware), and that the preferredvehicle will vary with the context in which the processes and/or systemsand/or other technologies are deployed. For example, if an implementerdetermines that speed and accuracy are paramount, the implementer mayopt for a mainly hardware and/or firmware vehicle; alternatively, ifflexibility is paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly softwareimplementation; or, yet again alternatively, the implementer may opt forsome combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Hence, thereare several possible vehicles by which the processes and/or devicesand/or other technologies described herein may be effected, none ofwhich is inherently superior to the other in that any vehicle to beutilized is a choice dependent upon the context in which the vehiclewill be deployed and the specific concerns (e.g., speed, flexibility, orpredictability) of the implementer, any of which may vary. The readerwill recognize that optical aspects of implementations will typicallyemploy optically-oriented hardware, software, and or firmware.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/orexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, each functionand/or operation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples canbe implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range ofhardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. Inone embodiment, several portions of the subject matter described hereinmay be implemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs),Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors(DSPs), or other integrated formats. However, some aspects of theembodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, can be equivalentlyimplemented in integrated circuits, as one or more computer programsrunning on one or more computers (e.g., as one or more programs runningon one or more computer systems), as one or more programs running on oneor more processors (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or moremicroprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof,and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code for thesoftware and or firmware would be well within the skill of one of skillin the art in light of this disclosure. In addition, the reader willappreciate that the mechanisms of the subject matter described hereinare capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety offorms, and that an illustrative embodiment of the subject matterdescribed herein applies regardless of the particular type of signalbearing medium used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples ofa signal bearing medium include, but are not limited to, the following:a recordable type medium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, aCompact Disc (CD), a Digital Video Disk (DVD), a digital tape, acomputer memory, etc.; and a transmission type medium such as a digitaland/or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, awaveguide, a wired communications link, a wireless communication link,etc.).

In a general sense, the various embodiments described herein can beimplemented, individually and/or collectively, by various types ofelectro-mechanical systems having a wide range of electrical componentssuch as hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combinationthereof; and a wide range of components that may impart mechanical forceor motion such as rigid bodies, spring or torsional bodies, hydraulics,and electro-magnetically actuated devices, or virtually any combinationthereof. Consequently, as used herein “electro-mechanical system”includes, but is not limited to, electrical circuitry operably coupledwith a transducer (e.g., an actuator, a motor, a piezoelectric crystal,etc.), electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electricalcircuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit,electrical circuitry having at least one application specific integratedcircuit, electrical circuitry forming a general purpose computing deviceconfigured by a computer program (e.g., a general purpose computerconfigured by a computer program which at least partially carries outprocesses and/or devices described herein, or a microprocessorconfigured by a computer program which at least partially carries outprocesses and/or devices described herein), electrical circuitry forminga memory device (e.g., forms of random access memory), electricalcircuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem, communicationsswitch, or optical-electrical equipment), and any non-electrical analogthereto, such as optical or other analogs. Examples ofelectro-mechanical systems include but are not limited to a variety ofconsumer electronics systems, as well as other systems such as motorizedtransport systems, factory automation systems, security systems, andcommunication/computing systems. Electro-mechanical as used herein isnot necessarily limited to a system that has both electrical andmechanical actuation except as context may dictate otherwise.

In a general sense, the various aspects described herein which can beimplemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range ofhardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof can be viewedas being composed of various types of “electrical circuitry.”Consequently, as used herein “electrical circuitry” includes, but is notlimited to, electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electricalcircuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit,electrical circuitry having at least one application specific integratedcircuit, electrical circuitry forming a general purpose computing deviceconfigured by a computer program (e.g., a general purpose computerconfigured by a computer program which at least partially carries outprocesses and/or devices described herein, or a microprocessorconfigured by a computer program which at least partially carries outprocesses and/or devices described herein), electrical circuitry forminga memory device (e.g., forms of random access memory), and/or electricalcircuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem, communicationsswitch, or optical-electrical equipment). The subject matter describedherein may be implemented in an analog or digital fashion or somecombination thereof.

The herein described components (e.g., steps), devices, and objects andthe discussion accompanying them are used as examples for the sake ofconceptual clarity. Consequently, as used herein, the specific exemplarsset forth and the accompanying discussion are intended to berepresentative of their more general classes. In general, use of anyspecific exemplar herein is also intended to be representative of itsclass, and the non-inclusion of such specific components (e.g., steps),devices, and objects herein should not be taken as indicating thatlimitation is desired.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, the reader can translate from the plural to the singularand/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the contextand/or application. The various singular/plural permutations are notexpressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates differentcomponents contained within, or connected with, different othercomponents. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures aremerely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can beimplemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense,any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality iseffectively “associated” such that the desired functionality isachieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve aparticular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each othersuch that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective ofarchitectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components soassociated can also be viewed as being “operably connected,” or“operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality,and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewedas being “operably couplable,” to each other to achieve the desiredfunctionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but arenot limited to physically mateable and/or physically interactingcomponents and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interactingcomponents and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactablecomponents.

In some instances, one or more components may be referred to herein as“configured to.” The reader will recognize that “configured to” cangenerally encompass active-state components and/or inactive-statecomponents and/or standby-state components, etc. unless context requiresotherwise.

In some instances, one or more components may be referred to herein as“configured to.” The reader will recognize that “configured to” cangenerally encompass active-state components and/or inactive-statecomponents and/or standby-state components, unless context requiresotherwise.

While particular aspects of the present subject matter described hereinhave been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modificationsmay be made without departing from the subject matter described hereinand its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are toencompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as arewithin the true spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein.Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is defined by theappended claims. In general, terms used herein, and especially in theappended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generallyintended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should beinterpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” shouldbe interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should beinterpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will befurther understood by those within the art that if a specific number ofan introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will beexplicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitationno such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, thefollowing appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases“at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations.However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply thatthe introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or“an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claimrecitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even whenthe same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “atleast one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or“an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one ormore”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used tointroduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number ofan introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, such recitationshould typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in generalsuch a construction is intended in the sense the convention (e.g., “asystem having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not belimited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and Btogether, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and Ctogether, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “atleast one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a constructionis intended in the sense the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that haveA alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). Virtually any disjunctiveword and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether inthe description, claims, or drawings, should be understood tocontemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either ofthe terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will beunderstood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

With respect to the appended claims, the recited operations therein maygenerally be performed in any order. Examples of such alternateorderings may include overlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered,incremental, preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous, reverse, or othervariant orderings, unless context dictates otherwise. With respect tocontext, even terms like “responsive to,” “related to,” or otherpast-tense adjectives are generally not intended to exclude suchvariants, unless context dictates otherwise.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, thevarious aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes ofillustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scopeand spirit being indicated by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless power distribution system, comprising:a routing module including at least one processor configured todetermine a route for a power-receiving device to travel alongresponsive to receiving input about one or more characteristicsassociated with the power-receiving device or one or more wireless powertransmitters for delivering power to the power-receiving device; and theone or more wireless power transmitters operably coupled to the routingmodule, the one or more wireless power transmitters configured towirelessly transmit the power to the power-receiving device at one ormore locations along the route.
 2. The wireless power distributionsystem of claim 1, wherein the one or more wireless power transmittersinclude a plurality of wireless power transmitters spaced from eachother at least partially along the route.
 3. The wireless powerdistribution system of claim 1, wherein the one or more wireless powertransmitters include at least one of a laser, a microwave source, amicrowave beam source, an inductive power source, or aradio-frequency-power source.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The wireless powerdistribution system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or morewireless power transmitters is configured to deliver the power to thepower-receiving device prior to or while the power-receiving devicetravels along a portion of the route in which the device consumes powerat greater than a specified power consumption rate.
 6. The wirelesspower distribution system of claim 1, further comprising a powerdelivery subsystem operably coupled to the one or more wireless powertransmitters and the routing module, the power delivery subsystemincluding a controller configured to control delivery of the power fromthe one or more wireless power transmitters responsive to a request forpower from the power-receiving device.
 7. The wireless powerdistribution system of claim 6, wherein the routing module is configuredto receive operational information about the one or more wireless powertransmitters from the power delivery subsystem and determine the routeat least partially based on the operational information.
 8. The wirelesspower distribution system of claim 6, further comprising a power requestmodule associated with the power-receiving device, the power requestmodule configured to send a request for wireless power for thepower-receiving device to the power delivery subsystem.
 9. (canceled)10. (canceled)
 11. The wireless power distribution system of claim 1,wherein the at least one processor of the routing module is configuredto determine the route so that the power-receiving device receivesmaximum power when traveling along the route for a given distribution ofthe one or more wireless power transmitters.
 12. (canceled)
 13. Thewireless power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the at least oneprocessor of the routing module is configured to determine an alteredroute based at least partially on at least one of a rate of powerconsumption or energy storage of the power-receiving device as thepower-receiving device travels along the route.
 14. (canceled) 15.(canceled)
 16. (canceled)
 17. The wireless power distribution system ofclaim 1, wherein the routing module is separate from the power-receivingdevice.
 18. The wireless power distribution system of claim 1, whereinthe power-receiving device is integrated with a vehicle.
 19. Thewireless power distribution system of claim 1, wherein thepower-receiving device includes a portable electronic device. 20.(canceled)
 21. (canceled)
 22. The wireless power distribution system ofclaim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics associated with thepower-receiving device include at least one of type of power receiver ofthe power-receiving device, amount of power requested by thepower-receiving device, maximum power reception capability of thepower-receiving device, cumulative energy requested by thepower-receiving device, location of the power-receiving device, speed atwhich the power-receiving device is traveling, or time at which thepower-receiving device is traveling.
 23. (canceled)
 24. The wirelesspower distribution system of claim 1, wherein the one or morecharacteristics include peak or cumulative prices at which a user iswilling to pay for the power.
 25. (canceled)
 26. The wireless powerdistribution system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor ofthe routing module is configured to determine the route based at leastpartially on one or more characteristics of the one or more wirelesspower transmitters.
 27. The wireless power distribution system of claim26, wherein the one or more characteristics include type of power thatthe one or more wireless power transmitters are configured to output,frequency of the power that the one or more wireless power transmittersare configured to output, range that the one or more wireless powertransmitters are configured to transmit power, directionality of thepower that the one or more wireless power transmitters are configured tooutput, location of the one or more wireless power transmitters, powerlevel that can be transmitted from the one or more wireless powertransmitters, type of energy that can be transmitted from the one ormore wireless power transmitters, or cost of the power that the one ormore wireless power transmitters are configured to output. 28.(canceled)
 29. (canceled)
 30. (canceled)
 31. A method, comprising: at arouting module, receiving input about one or more characteristicsassociated with a power-receiving device in need of power; and with atleast one processor of the routing module, determining a route alongwhich the power-receiving device can receive power wirelessly responsiveto the receiving the input.
 32. The method of claim 31, wherein thepower-receiving device includes a power receiver configured to convertat least a portion of the power transmitted by the one or more wirelesspower transmitters to electricity for powering the power-receivingdevice.
 33. The method of claim 31, wherein determining a route alongwhich the power-receiving device can receive power wirelessly responsiveto the receiving the input includes determining the route in order tomaximize energy distribution to the power-receiving device for a givendistribution of a plurality of wireless power transmitters.
 34. Themethod of claim 31, wherein determining a route along which thepower-receiving device can receive power wirelessly responsive to thereceiving the input includes determining the route at least partiallybased on minimizing deviation from a nominal route while a specifiedamount of the power is delivered.
 35. The method of claim 31, whereindetermining a route along which the power-receiving device can receivepower wirelessly responsive to the receiving the input includesdetermining the route in order to maintain power distribution to thepower-receiving device above a threshold power level.
 36. (canceled) 37.The method of claim 31, wherein determining a route along which thepower-receiving device can receive power wirelessly responsive to thereceiving the input includes determining the route in order to minimizetotal cost for power distribution to the power-receiving device.
 38. Themethod of claim 31, wherein the one or more characteristics associatedwith the power-receiving device include at least one of type of powerreceiver of the power-receiving device, amount of power requested by thepower-receiving device, maximum power reception capability of thepower-receiving device, cumulative energy requested by thepower-receiving device, location of the power-receiving device, speed atwhich the power-receiving device is traveling, or time at which thepower-receiving device is traveling.
 39. (canceled)
 40. (canceled) 41.(canceled)
 42. The method of claim 31, wherein the one or morecharacteristics associated with the power-receiving device include atleast one of allowable periods for the power-receiving device withoutpower delivery, operating mode of the power-receiving device, or energystorage capacity of the power-receiving device.
 43. The method of claim31, wherein determining a route along which the power-receiving devicecan receive power wirelessly responsive to the receiving the inputincludes determining the route at least partially based on one or morecharacteristics of a plurality of wireless power transmitters from whichthe power is to be transmitted.
 44. The method of claim 43, wherein theone or more characteristics of the plurality of wireless powertransmitters include type of power that at least one of the plurality ofwireless power transmitters is configured to output, frequency of thepower that at least one of the plurality of wireless power transmittersis configured to output, range that at least one of the plurality ofwireless power transmitters is configured to transmit power,directionality of the power that at least one of the plurality ofwireless power transmitters is configured to output, or location of theplurality of wireless power transmitters, power level that can betransmitted from the plurality of wireless power transmitters, type ofenergy that can be transmitted from the plurality of wireless powertransmitters, cost of power that the at least one of the plurality ofwireless power transmitters is configured to output.
 45. The method ofclaim 31, further comprising, at a power delivery subsystem, receiving arequest for power for the power-receiving device.
 46. The method ofclaim 31, further comprising, sending information to the routing moduleabout one or more characteristics of a plurality of wireless powertransmitters from which the power is to be transmitted.
 47. (canceled)48. (canceled)
 49. The method of claim 31, wherein the power-receivingdevice is integrated with a vehicle.
 50. The method of claim 31, whereinthe power-receiving device includes a portable electronic device. 51.(canceled)
 52. (canceled)
 53. The method of claim 31, further comprisingwirelessly transmitting the power to the power-receiving device at oneor more locations along the route.
 54. (canceled)
 55. (canceled)
 56. Themethod of claim 53, wherein wirelessly transmitting power to thepower-receiving device at one or more locations along the route includeswirelessly transmitting relatively more power along a portion of theroute in which the power-receiving device consumes power at greater thanan average power consumption rate.
 57. (canceled)
 58. The method ofclaim 31, wherein the route directs the power-receiving device to alocation to receive the power, directs the power-receiving device to alocation to receive the power along the route at a selected time, ordirects the power-receiving device to receive a specified amount of thepower.
 59. A method, comprising: sending information about one or morecharacteristics associated with a power-receiving device in need ofpower; and responsive to the sending the information, at thepower-receiving device, receiving route information about a route alongwhich the power-receiving device can receive the power wirelessly. 60.The method of claim 59, further comprising powering the power-receivingdevice with energy associated with the received power.
 61. The method ofclaim 59, wherein the one or more characteristics associated with thepower-receiving device include type of power receiver of thepower-receiving device, amount of power requested by the power-receivingdevice, maximum power reception capability of the power-receivingdevice, cumulative energy requested by the power-receiving device,location of the power-receiving device, speed at which thepower-receiving device is traveling, time at which the power-receivingdevice is traveling, allowable periods without power delivery for thepower-receiving device, or operating mode of the power-receiving device.62. (canceled)
 63. (canceled)
 64. The method of claim 59, furthercomprising receiving at least a portion of the power at thepower-receiving device at one or more locations along the route.
 65. Themethod of claim 64, wherein receiving at least a portion of the power atthe power-receiving device at one or more locations along the routeincludes receiving a maximized energy distribution at thepower-receiving device for a given distribution of a plurality ofwireless power transmitters from which the power is to be transmitted.66. The method of claim 64, wherein receiving at least a portion of thepower at the power-receiving device at one or more locations along theroute includes receiving a selected amount power at the power-receivingdevice when the power-receiving device consumes power at greater than aspecified power consumption rate.
 67. (canceled)
 68. (canceled) 69.(canceled)
 70. (canceled)
 71. (canceled)
 72. The method of claim 71,wherein the one or more characteristics of the one or more wirelesspower transmitters include type of power that one or more wireless powertransmitters are configured to output, frequency of the power that theone or more wireless power transmitters are configured to output, rangethat the one or more wireless power transmitters are configured totransmit power, directionality of the power that the one or morewireless power transmitters are configured to output, or location of theone or more wireless power transmitters, power level that can betransmitted from the one or more wireless power transmitters, type ofenergy that can be transmitted from the one or more wireless powertransmitters, cost of power that the one or more wireless powertransmitters are configured to output.
 73. (canceled)
 74. The method ofclaim 71, wherein the one or more characteristics of the one or morewireless power transmitters include type of power that the one or morewireless power transmitters is configured to output, frequency of thepower that the one or more wireless power transmitters are configured tooutput, range that the one or more wireless power transmitters areconfigured to transmit power, directionality of the power that the oneor more wireless power transmitters are configured to output, or cost ofpower that the one or more wireless power transmitters are configured tooutput.
 75. (canceled)
 76. (canceled)
 77. (canceled)
 78. (canceled) 79.(canceled)
 80. The method of claim 59, wherein the route directs thepower-receiving device to travel to a location to receive the power. 81.The method of claim 59, wherein the route directs the power-receivingdevice to travel to a location to receive the power at a selected time.82. The method of claim 59, wherein the route directs the manner inwhich the power-receiving device travels between power draws. 83.(canceled)
 84. A method of distributing wireless power, comprising:wirelessly receiving data about a route along which a power-receivingdevice can travel to receive power wirelessly; wirelessly sending arequest for delivery of the power to one or more locations along theroute that the power-receiving device is to travel; and responsive tothe sending the request, wirelessly receiving at least a portion of thepower at the power-receiving device at the one or more locations alongthe route.
 85. The method of claim 84, further comprising selecting theroute from a plurality of different routes.
 86. The method of claim 84,wherein the route is subject to constraints on at least one of start andend locations, on duration, on allowable deviation from a referenceroute.
 87. The method of claim 84, wherein the one or morecharacteristics include peak or cumulative prices at which a user iswilling to pay for the power.
 88. The method of claim 84, whereinwireless receiving data about a route along which a power-receivingdevice can travel to receive power wirelessly includes displaying theroute on the power-receiving device.
 89. The method of claim 84, furthercomprising powering the power-receiving device with energy associatedwith the wirelessly received power.
 90. The method of claim 84, furthercomprising prior to the receiving the route, sending information to arouting module that determines the route, wherein the informationincludes power-receiving device information about one or morecharacteristics associated with the power-receiving device or aplurality of wireless transmitters that can transmit power to thepower-receiving device.
 91. The method of claim 90, wherein the one ormore characteristics associated with the power-receiving device includetype of power receiver of the power-receiving device, amount of powerrequested by the power-receiving device, maximum power receptioncapability of the power-receiving device, cumulative energy requested bythe power-receiving device, location of the power-receiving device,speed at which the power-receiving device is traveling, or operatingmode of the power-receiving device.
 92. (canceled)
 93. (canceled) 94.The method of claim 90, wherein the one or more characteristics of theplurality of wireless power transmitters include type of power that theat least one of the plurality of wireless power transmitters isconfigured to output, frequency of the power that the at least one ofthe plurality of wireless power transmitters is configured to output,range that the at least one of the plurality of wireless powertransmitters is configured to transmit power, directionality of thepower that the at least one of the plurality of wireless powertransmitters is configured to output, or cost of power that the at leastone of the plurality of wireless power transmitters is configured tooutput
 95. (canceled)
 96. (canceled)
 97. The method of claim 84, whereinthe power-receiving device includes a portable electronic device. 98.(canceled)
 99. (canceled)
 100. (canceled)
 101. The method of claim 84,wherein wirelessly receiving at least a portion of the power at thepower-receiving device at the one or more locations along the routeincludes wirelessly receiving relatively more power along a portion ofthe route in which the power-receiving device consumes power at greaterthan an average power consumption rate.
 102. A method, comprising: withat least one processor of a routing module, determining a route alongwhich a power-receiving device can receive power wirelessly based atleast partially on one or more characteristics of at least one of aplurality of wireless power transmitters.
 103. (canceled) 104.(canceled)
 105. (canceled)
 106. (canceled)
 107. (canceled) 108.(canceled)
 109. (canceled)
 110. (canceled)
 111. (canceled) 112.(canceled)
 113. (canceled)
 114. (canceled)
 115. (canceled) 116.(canceled)
 117. (canceled)
 118. (canceled)
 119. (canceled) 120.(canceled)
 121. (canceled)
 122. (canceled)
 123. (canceled) 124.(canceled)
 125. (canceled)
 126. (canceled)
 127. (canceled)